Louisville Child Support Attorneys

In Kentucky child custody or paternity cases child support will always be a factor. Kentucky has a relatively simple child support statute that calculates a parties' obligation based on only a few factors. In the majority of cases child support is calculated based on both parents' income, the cost of health insurance for the child, and the cost of any work related child care. The Kentucky child support statute, KRS 403.212, provides a grid that calculates child support based on the number of children and the total combined income of both parties. This grid system is known as the Kentucky Child Support Guidelines.

The Kentucky child support statutes provide a predictable way of calculating child support in a majority of cases. As times change, however, the Child Support Guidelines remain static even as other factors in the economy, child custody laws and parenting arrangements evolve. Consequently, the application of the Kentucky Child Support Guidelines makes sense in fewer cases. The most common case where the Guidelines do not work is a case involving combined income above the maximum income provided for in the guidelines, $15,00 per month. In such cases, a Court cannot simply rely on the Guidelines when setting a support amount. Similarly, parties in such a case cannot rely on the Guidelines to predict a child support amount.

The Kentucky Child Support Guidelines presume that one parent provides the primary residence and bears the burden of the children's everyday expenses. In recent years, courts have begun moving toward a shared parenting model in custody cases, where both parents share significant time with the children. In such a case, both parties usual bear the responsibility for a significant portion of the children's everyday expenses. If the parents have similar incomes, the application of the Child Support Guidelines may be unjust.

At Barrow & Taylor our attorneys are experienced at all level of child support issues, from basic calculations to complex appeals. We also assist clients in obtaining judgments, collecting past due support, and defending against pending contempt or criminal charges.

Your initial consultation is FREE.